I am getting a dwarf hamster!,-can i feed it a different type of food from what the pet shop fed it?

Question

the pet shop owner says that if i don't feed it the food that it was fed(the food that the pet shop gave it),it will have diarrhoea,is that true?

Answer 1

Yes, the pet shop owner is correct. A sudden change in food can cause it to become sick. If you do wish to change its food, try mixing the food he originally ate and the food you want him to eat.

Your hamster can also get diarrhea several other ways. The most you can do is give your hamster more water. There are products out there to prevent diarrhea, but you should go to a vet to take care of it.

You do not need to clean your hamsters ears or trim their nails at least for a while. Most likely, you don't need to at all. If you see your hamster scratch his ear, he may have mites/fleas, or, a disease. A vet should be contacted.

A dwarf hamster's claws are very small, so it is not suggested that you clip them yourself. A simple way, if you really think they are long, is to line his wheel with a soft sandpaper and the nails should scratch off a little.

If you simply think your hamster is just dirty, do NOT bathe him. You can buy chinchilla sand at the pet store; it's a great alternative. It removes excess oils from his fur.

When you find out the breed of your dwarf, you may want to research it a little. Different hamsters have different personalities, wants, and tolerations. But other than that, you'll have a great time with your new hamster(: ! They're adorable.

Answer 2

It will give your hamster diarrhoea if you change its food to quickly so what you have to do is put about 3/4s of the old food and 1/4 of the new food then eventually ween it on to its new food.You will not have to clean its ear and trim its nail unless they get to long or you can get a vet to have it done and they will only get fleas if they are dirty and don't have their cages cleaned out. Bt don't ever bath your hamster unless it has something toxic or sticky on it. Hope this helped Good luck here are some websites for all the hamster infomation you will need!

Answer 3

yes... because it would be used to that food

Answer 4

I think you need to learn more about them before you buy one.  

You should get two or more (only two if Chinese) of and type of dwarf hamster (not syrian they are solitary) as they are sociable and prefer company (same s*x from the same cage at the store/breeder).  

The do need to eat the food at the store as it is specifically formulated for their needs with the correct amount of vitamins, minerals, fibre, fat etc.  You can add extra food from home for variety and for treats like fruit and vegetables (not potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce or citrus fruits), low sugar wholegrain cereal, wholegrain bread, tiny amonts of cheese or cooked meat (hamsters are omnivores in the wild eating insects, they can also eat live mealworms), sunflower seeds, un-salted peanuts (very fattening though) and grass and dandelions.  All of the above must be fed in moderation though or it could cause diarrhoea.  New food introduced too quickly or too much fresh and wet foods cause diarrhoea in hamsters - they are prone to it.  

You do not need to clean their ears and you would almost certainly not have to trim their nails as they usually wear down on their own.  If you did need to trim them they sell clippers at pet stores or the vet could do it for you.  

Hamsters don't usually get fleas as they live inside with no contact with other animals.  

Answer 5

You should have something for them to bite on because my hamster kept biting on the steel cage non stop, my guess is he was trying to trim his teeth or something. :/

Answer 6

probably but u should just feed it what is eating

once in a while u could feed it what u want

the web site i gave you really will help a lot

please if you can just make my answer the best if it is i worked really hard